Twitter Best PracticesFor journalists and newsrooms

Commonly asked questions

“Our followers have skyrocketed recently. What did we do right?”

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“I only have 140 characters. Why should I use a hashtag?”

“How do I get my Twitter followers to retweet my content?”

Research Methodology

Data serves as a model for how others can create follower growth and engagement on Twitter

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150+ journalists and news publishers included in study

1000s of tweets over six-month period examined to uncover patterns of quality engagement

What you can do to drive follower growth

1. Tweet your beat

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3. Share what you’re reading

2. Use hashtags

4. @Cite your sources

Tweet your beatFor journalists who post a concentrated number of Tweets in a short time span, follower growth is 50% more than expected (1.5x).

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Tweet your beatFor journalists who post a concentrated number of Tweets in a short time span, follower growth is 50% more than expected (1.5x).

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The Patriot-News’ Sara Ganim (@SGanim) saw an increased number of followers when she tweeted the Jerry Sandusky trial, a part of her beat as a crime reporter.

Tweet your beatLive-tweeting or posting several updates about a news event relevant to your beat is one way to increase engagement and follower growth.

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The Tuscaloosa News (@TuscaloosaNews) posted up-to-the-minute updates on a local tornado to Twitter, including information on emergency resources. The Alabama newsroom was awarded the Breaking News Pulitzer for its coverage of the event.

Tweet your beatTwitter users who continue to live-tweet news relevant to their beat often see a steady stream of new followers.

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Reuters’ Anthony De Rosa (@AntDeRosa) often posts or retweets news related to politics and government. De Rosa has seen a huge rise in followers and positioned himself as a go-to source for such news on Twitter.

Use hashtags for contextHashtags can increase engagement almost 100% (2x) for journalists and 50% (1.5x) for news organizations.

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Use hashtags for contextHashtags can increase engagement almost 100% (2x) for journalists and 50% (1.5x) for news organizations.

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Fox News (@FoxNews) uses hashtags to identify the subject of its tweets and to join the greater conversation on Twitter about that person, place, thing or event.

Use hashtags for contextTweets with hashtags (the # symbol, followed by the subject or keyword related to the tweet) draw higher engagement.

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The Washington Post (@WashingtonPost) often uses hashtags to describe the content of its tweets or to add context.

Use hashtags for contextWhen you include hashtags in your Tweets, your Tweets become more visible and you eventually gather more Twitter followers.

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CBS Chicago (@CBSChicago) uses hashtags to group tweets into a conversation that Twitter users can follow or engage with. In the second example, the #DrewPeterson hashtag is included in tweets related to the local trial.

Share what you’re readingJournalists receive 100% more (2x) active engagement (on good Tweets) when a URL is included.

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Share what you’re readingJournalists receive 100% more (2x) active engagement (on good Tweets) when a URL is included. When individuals share URLs to non-company sources, they experience a bump in follows.

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Share what you’re readingJournalists with above expected follower growth send 200% more retweets (3X) compared to journalists with below expected follower growth.

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Share what you’re readingUse the Retweet button to curate content. Journalists and brands that retweet see a higher than expected follower growth.

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@Cite your sourcesNews organizations that tweet 20% fewer URLs and 100% more @mentions grow followers 17% more than expected.

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@Cite your sourcesInstead of just posting Tweets that contain include URLs, mix up the content of your Tweets. News organizations that tweet 20% fewer URLs and 100% more @mentions grow followers 17% more than expected.

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In the above Tweet, The Guardian (@guardian) includes the Twitter handles of journalist Elizabeth Day (@elizabday) and actor Stephen Mangan (@StephenMangan), the subject of the article.

@Cite your sourcesIncluding the Twitter handle of your sources in your Tweets increases follower growth and engagement.

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Inside Breaking News (@breaking) frequently includes the Twitter handle of the source of the links, photos or videos in its Tweets.

@TwitterAds | Confidential

What works for you?Tweet at us

@TwitterForNews

I’m a reporter. How do I gain more followers?

Tweet your beat

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• For journalists who post a concentrated number of Tweets in a short time span, follower growth is 50% more than expected (1.5x).

Share what you’re reading• Journalists with above expected follower growth send 200% more retweets (3X) compared to individuals with below expected follower growth.• Use the Retweet button to curate content. Journalists and brands that retweet see a higher than expected follower growth.

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Share what you’re reading

Use hashtags and @cite your sources• Hashtags can increase engagement almost 100% (2x) for journalists.• Including the Twitter handle of your sources in your Tweets increases follower growth and engagement.

• Individuals receive 100% more (2x) active engagement (on good tweets) when a URL is included.

I’m a reporter. How do I create moreengaging tweets?

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@Cite your sources

Tweet your beat• Live-tweeting or posting several updates about a news event relevant to your beat is one way to increase engagement and follower growth.

• Brands that tweet 20% fewer URLs and 100% more @mentions grow followers 17% more than expected.

I’m a news organization. How do I gain more followers?

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@Cite your sources

Use hashtags for context• Hashtags can increase engagement 50% (1.5x) for brands.• When you include hashtags in your Tweets, your Tweets become more visible and you eventually gather more Twitter followers.

• Instead of just posting Tweets that contain include URLs, mix up the content of your Tweets. News organizations that tweet 20% fewer URLs and 100% more @mentions grow followers 17% more than expected.

I’m a news organization. How do I create more engaging tweets?

Additional Resourcesbit.ly/TwitterForNews@TwitterForNews

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